Electromechanical reproducer for gunfire



Patented June 2, 1936 'ELEGTROMECHANICAL REPRODUCER FOR GUNFIRE Andr Valentin Baranofl, Saint-Manda'France Application December 13, 1932, Serial No. 647,069

In France December 14, 1931 1 Claim. (01. 35 m OF Fl E This invention relates to apparatus designed for use in military and naval colleges for the instruction of the-personnel usually employed in the handling of artillery.

The main object of the invention is to provide instruction apparatus of this character, in which the trajectories of moving targets can be reproduced in miniature, and which the exact position of such targets may be continuously determined from a minature reproducton of the terrain under consideration.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent as the detailed description thereof proceeds.

In the drawing;

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of part of the apparatus illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

As shown in the drawing, the invention comprises a table having a substantially horizontal fiat table top T, suitably secured to and supported by the legs LI, L2 and L3. The top T is provided with a rear wall W, having a straight upper edge designed to represent the" horizon. Sides SI and S2 are connected at their rear ends to the opposite ends of the rear wall W; and, are continued forwardly to form the semi-circular front wall S3.

The sides SI, S2 and S3 form, with the rear wall W, a container adapted to receive water, or other liquid, up to the level of the horizon edge WI; and the top T is provided with any desired number of valve controlled drain pipes d, to empty the container when it is desired to make use of it for any other purpose, such as supporting the relief map shown in Fig. 3.

The center of the semi-circular wall S3 is provided with an aperture :11, through which projects a rod 3 having a stud s which may serve as an indicator of target position over the terrain map, or may be used as a pivotal support for a miniature target 6, shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The other end of the rod 3 is suitably secured to the slide 4 which is slidably mounted on the upper face of the beam I. The beam I projects laterally from a fitting f suitably secured to the shaft 2 which is journaled to rotate about a vertical axis in the center of the semi-circular wall S3.

The slide 4 extends down along one side of the beam I; and, this downward extension is internally screw-threaded to receive the screwthreaded rod I0, having its opposite ends mounted to rotate in the gear casings c and c at the opposite ends of the beam I. A handwheel 5, connected to suitable gearing in the gear case 0, effects rotation of the rod I0 and thereby moves 5 the rod 3 radially of the semi-circular Wall S3.

A hand wheel I is geared to one end of the shaft sh to rotatethe same; and, a bearing bracket bb serves as a journal for the other end of the said shaft sh. A bevel gear bp on the end of the shaft, meshes with the bevel rack Zn" on a shelf bracket secured to the leg LI. The rotation of the handwheel I may therefore effect rotation of the beam I and rod 3 about the axis of the. vertical pivot 2 simultaneously with the lengthwise movement of the rod 3 over the top T.

In this manner, the indicator s or target 6, may be moved to any desired position over the top T.

A directing table, designated generally by the reference character P, is arranged symmetrically below the beam I when the beam is normal to the arcuate rim S3. This table P comprises two vertically spaced apart plates p and pl, the lower plate p having a, roughened surface and the upper plate pl being formed of ground glass. A small carriage I I, having an electric lamp mounted therein, is supported on the plate p by rubber covered wheels II' and II" for movement under the plate pl.

A screw threaded rod I2 engages an internally 3O screw-threaded aperture in the carriage II and is journaled at one end in a slide I3 mounted to slide lengthwise of a guide I4 fixed to the upper plate pl. A handwheel I5 rotates the rod I2 to move the carriage I I to any desired position under the plate pl. This movement, combined with the sliding movement on the guide I4, enables the operator to move the carriage II to any desired position under the plate pl; and, to follow any given path pa which may be marked 40 on the plate pl.

The directing table P may be displaced in two directions on the base Ba along the guides I9 and 20, the guide I9 being fixed to the base, and the guide 20 being movable transversely of the guide I9. Three controlling handwheels 2|, in cooperation with racks and screws (not shown) serve to eiTect these movements of the directing table P.

In order to cause the target indicator 6 to follow the movements of the carriage II, to an enlarged scale, a second screw-threaded rod is journaled at its opposite ends to the beam I; and the end thereof nearer the gear case 0', is connected by gearing to the adjacent end of the rod In so as to effect rotation of the rod 9 at a speed having any desired ratio to the speed of rotation of the rod III. A 45 degree prism 8 is secured to an internally screw-threaded fitting 8' meshing with the rod 9; and, the shaft sh, passing through a bore in said fitting 8, prevents rotation of the prism 8 about the axis of the rod 9. Another 45 degree prism IT at the control end of the beam I, cooperates with the prism 8 to deflect the rays of light emanating from the lamp in carriage ll into position for convenient observation by the control operator.

It will be apparent that an operator at the outer end of the beam I, can manipulate the control hand wheels and I to move the prism 8 to duplicate in space the movements of the car'- riage II; as, for example along the path pa plotted on the ground glass plate pk In so moving the prism 8, the operator moves the target indicator 6 to a corresponding position over the relief map, or other terrain representation, which is properly located on the table T; thereby giving information to the batteries as to the nature of the terrain represented directly under the target indicator. In the case of a target in motion the target indicator 6 may be rotated on the stud 2, by means of the handwheel l8, to indicate the direction of such motion.

It will be evident that the apparatus described constitutes, in effect, a light-ray pantographic ture guns in positions corresponding to the locations of real guns relative to the terrain under What I claim is:-'

In fire control apparatus: a substantially horizontal table adapted to support a miniature scale representation of terrain within firing range of guns located in known or determinable positions relative to said table; a supporting beam rotatable about a vertical axis on said table; a rod having an indicator on one end thereof and mounted to rotate with and slide axially on said beam; and means on said beam for rotating the latter and means for sliding said rod on said beam.

ANDRE VALENTIN BARANOFF.

ing members in which may be detachably mounted the inner ends of brackets supporting minia- 

